Henry V is available on DVD in a 1989 production directed by, and starring, Kenneth Branagh. This is a direct and edgy story about England’s war with France in which the flower of the French aristocracy were slaughtered in the mud of Agincort beneath a rain of arrows from English longbow men.

The political machinations of the church are revealed in brief and urgent discussion between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely, before Branagh is seen entering his court to hold a council of war. His presence is intimidating and charismatic. He arrives from the light of a doorway with his lords and generals in awe, and takes his throne as the dread centre of attention. The Archbishop comes in and explains how the French are using a redundant law to deny Henry’s right to rule France. Just to make matters worse, the Dauphin has sent him tennis balls as a joke.

In the house of Pistol and Mistress Quickly, Bardolph and Nym are disquieted by the imminent demise of their large and entertaining friend, Falstaff, played by Robbie Coltrane. His heart has been broken for the young playboy, Prince Hal, who favoured his company in Henry IV Part One, has now rejected his lower connections and assumed the mantle of royal responsibilities.

The working class subplot continues with Bardolph, Nym, Mistress Quickly, and Pistol, talking of Falstaff’s death. Then the men are off to the war. They will never meet up here again. Their lives are effectively over.

Derek Jacobi announces Henry’s wild attacks at Hafleur. ‘Once more unto the breach dear friends! Once more! Or close the wall up with our English dead!’ This is shouted from Branagh from the back of a rearing horse in a breach in the walls with a background of fire. The attacks continue until the English are almost spent at which point Henry shouts horrible and murderous threats concerning rape and the murder of babies. This has the desired effect. The town surrenders and the English limp in.

The acting is superb. Derek Jacobi is a fiery chorus although his modern scarf and clothing seems an unnecessary anachronism. Kenneth Branagh is convincingly ruthless and charismatic. Emma Thompson as Katherine is lovely, and her acting in French (which must be very tricky) thoroughly believable and charming. Robbie Coltrane’s pathetic Falstaff is brief but moving. The band of Hal’s old mates with their sense of honour and willingness to fight for England only to die as criminals or in a war crime, seem caught up in something too large. The battles are dramatic and the angst of some of the French and the misguided arrogance of others clearly depicted.

So, this is a chilling perspective on this King’s behaviour. He was clearly ruthless and determined. I think that much of this is portrayed in this version of the play although the killing of prisoners is not included in it. In his fight for England, and in the taking up of the role of King, young Hal, the wastrel in his youth, forgets his common friends. One dies of a broken heart and he watches another hang. It isn’t just a simple case of a heroic leader winning a battle, because we are given time to feel with Mistress Quickly (played by Judi Dench) that even lowly Falstaff had great dignity and merit, and that he has been betrayed terribly by that same young friend now wearing the crown.